When there is congestion in the lungs causing repeated
attacks of bronchitis, colds, cough or asthma, the Ayurvedic treatment
is therapeutic vomiting, vamana, to eliminate the kapha causing the
excess mucus. First, after the
snehan and
swedan,
three to four glasses of licorice or salt water is administered, then
vomiting is stimulated by rubbing the tongue which triggers the
vomiting center through the gag reflex. Often times this also releases
repressed emotions which have been held in the kapha areas of the
lungs and stomach along with the accumulated dosha. One may
alternatively take two to three glasses of salt water which will also
aggravate kapha and then rub the tongue to induce vomiting. Once the
mucus is released the patient will feel instantly relieved. It is
likely that congestion, wheezing and breathlessness will disappear and
that the sinuses will become clear. Therapeutic vomiting is also
indicated in chronic asthma, diabetes, chronic cold, lymphatic
congestion, chronic indigestion and edema.

Before vaman
is administered,
oil massage and
fomentation
are recommended on the night before the day of vaman. One to three
days prior to vaman, the person should drink one cup of recommended
oil two to three times a day until the stool becomes oily, or until he
or she feels nauseated. The person should also eat a kaphagenic diet
to aggravate kapha in the system. Vaman should be given early in the
morning (kapha time). The person should eat basmati rice and yogurt
with much salt early in the morning, which will further aggravate
kapha in the stomach. The application of heat to the chest and back
will liquify the kapha. The person should sit calmly on a knee-high
chair and drink the concoction of licorice and honey, or salt water.
This emesis preparation is measured and recorded before being drunk,
so that at a later time the amount of vomitus from the decoction can
be determined. After drinking the decoction the person should feel
nauseated. He should then rub the tongue to induce vomiting,
continuing until bile comes out in the vomitus. The degree of success
in this treatment is determined by: 1) the number of vomitings (8 is
maximum, 6 medium, 4 minimum), and 2) the quantity of vomitus (1 quart
maximum, 1 1/2 pints medium, 1 pint minimum).

After vaman,
resting, fasting, smoking certain herbal cigarettes, and not
suppressing natural urges (i.e. urination, defecation, gas, sneezing,
coughing) is recommended. If vaman is administered properly, the
person should feel relaxation in the lungs, will be able to breathe
freely, will have lightness in the chest, clear thinking, clear voice,
a good appetite, and all symptoms of congestion disappear.

After
practicing vaman in the morning, the person should fast until 5 pm,
then eat kitchari with ghee. He or she can drink cumin, coriander,
ginger, fennel tea (equal portions). Steep in hot water and drink with
one tsp. honey. Or he can drink honey lime tea, using one tsp. honey
and one tsp. lime juice to one cup of hot water.

Indications for Vaman:
used for all kapha type disorders, good for pitta headache, dizziness,
nausea, will help to release blocked emotions, respiratory,
congestion, bronchitis, chronic cold, sinus, congestion kaphagenic asthma.

Panchakarma is a very
special Ayurvedic operation requiring proper guidance from a highly
trained and skillful Ayurvedic practitioner. This should not be
undertaken just from information in this article. One should consult
with an Ayurvedic physician, not just someone with a modest amount of
training. Panchakarma is done individually for each person with their
specific constitution and specific disorder in mind, thus it requires
close observation and supervision.